I find myself warming to his easy, approachable manner and stop worrying that my questions sound stupid. He praises my inputs "you're smooth, your lines and steering are good, but your footwork is lagging behind. Your blip is really good, but I want you to slow down in the braking zone this next session—don't worry about lap times, you'll make it up later—and get your footwork perfect. Get off the clutch faster; on, off".
I do as I'm told, and although initially slower, my improved footwork soon enabled me to accelerate faster after the turns. Although far off the track record, I'm happy with my lap time of 1:07.
I can't emphasize how much work this is. Not only does it demand all of your attention, the physical effort is exhausting. We finish our laps drenched in sweat, legs shaking like jelly.
Hinchcliffe works out five times a week, cardio for stamina, and weights for strength, but there's no exercise other than seat time that can duplicate the sheer force of cornering and braking a racer's neck experiences.
I'm pounding back bottle after bottle of water in an effort to stay hydrated, and wonder how they cope during an endurance race lasting hours. "I can drink through a tube, but it's a pain" says Hinchcliffe. He lost five pounds by the end of the Toronto Honda Indy race. I ask if electrolyte levels and cramping are ever an issue. "Oh yeah" he says "I had a huge cramp in my right leg last week, it was killing me; I just had to work through it and keep braking".
I can't help but think that all the armchair critics of the recent Honda Indy should be required to spend a day doing this before ever uttering another word. Those critics wanting to put their money where their mouths are may do so by contacting http://www.race2000.com/courses/tlf.
Courses aren't cheap; a full day rings in at $1695.
The experience? Priceless.
I do as I'm told, and although initially slower, my improved footwork soon enabled me to accelerate faster after the turns. Although far off the track record, I'm happy with my lap time of 1:07.
 |
| Photo: Lesley Wimbush/Auto123.com |
I can't emphasize how much work this is. Not only does it demand all of your attention, the physical effort is exhausting. We finish our laps drenched in sweat, legs shaking like jelly.
Hinchcliffe works out five times a week, cardio for stamina, and weights for strength, but there's no exercise other than seat time that can duplicate the sheer force of cornering and braking a racer's neck experiences.
I'm pounding back bottle after bottle of water in an effort to stay hydrated, and wonder how they cope during an endurance race lasting hours. "I can drink through a tube, but it's a pain" says Hinchcliffe. He lost five pounds by the end of the Toronto Honda Indy race. I ask if electrolyte levels and cramping are ever an issue. "Oh yeah" he says "I had a huge cramp in my right leg last week, it was killing me; I just had to work through it and keep braking".
I can't help but think that all the armchair critics of the recent Honda Indy should be required to spend a day doing this before ever uttering another word. Those critics wanting to put their money where their mouths are may do so by contacting http://www.race2000.com/courses/tlf.
Courses aren't cheap; a full day rings in at $1695.
The experience? Priceless.
Article Gallery